GVSU partners with telemedicine provider

Grand Valley State University has partnered with Answers Health on Demand (AHOD) of Grand Rapids to give physician assistant students opportunities to learn about telemedicine.

Telemedicine allows health care providers to offer online diagnosis and treatment for patients who have issues like child health concerns, fever, flu, ear pain, rashes and prescription refills, to name a few. 

"Telemedicine is the future of health care, so we want our students to gain a general understanding of how it works and how it can be utilized," said Martina Reinhold, assistant professor of physician assistant studies. 

Reinhold and Theresa Bacon-Baguley, associate dean for research in the College of Health Professions, initiated the integration of telemedicine into the physician assistant curriculum.

"We look ahead and determine the needs of the future in order to prepare our students for what lies ahead in health care," said Bacon-Baguley. "We see the use of telemedicine growing."

Students will participate in a rotation with AHOD providers to observe incoming telemedicine appointments, get an overview of billing and reimbursements and learn about the legal aspects of telemedicine.

"AHOD is a telemedicine collaborative comprised of independent providers throughout Michigan who are working together to improve access to affordable, convenient care, and we are excited to partner with Grand Valley to help educate the next generation of providers,” said Haley Kamp, program manager for AHOD. 

Bacon-Baguley spearheaded the partnership with AHOD and said more in-depth exposure to telemedicine will soon be part of the curriculum for PA students. "I feel very fortunate to be part of an institution that values and supports programming that facilitates student success in a rapidly changing medical landscape."

For more information, contact Theresa Bacon-Baguley at (616) 331-5700 or Karen Bigelow at (720) 237-7358.